Ayer officials celebrate $3.2M for rail-trail lot

AYER -- Standing atop the Nashua River Rail Trail, officials gathered Monday morning to celebrate the recommitment of $3.2 million for an expanded rail trail parking lot. U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas delivered word of the funding from the Federal Transit Authority earlier this month.

Former U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan originally obtained the $3.2 million earmark for commuter-rail parking in Littleton, but was able to recommit the money for Ayer when Littleton rejected the sum. The Ayer earmark was due to sunset in 2011, but officials credit Tsongas for convincing the FTA to keep the earmark in place for the long-contemplated project.

Over the years, the project has been downsized from a proposed $11 million multi-tiered garage to the present proposal, for a $4 million, open-air parking lot with access from Park and Groton streets.

Ayer Town Administrator Robert Pontbriand said the Depot Square train stop is "one of the most heavily used along the Fitchburg line." Also, transit officials state that 15 percent of commuters using the Ayer train stop access the platform by foot, as do a third of Ayer's rail commuters. Pontbriand said that statistic makes Ayer "perhaps the 'greenest' of the commuter rail stops along the line."

Ayer Selectmen Chairman Jim Fay said that Town Meeting voted in 2007 "in favor of this platform. This is a long time coming."

Fay thanked many selectmen, past and present, for pushing the project forward.

Sen. Jamie Eldridge thanked Pontbriand, and also praised Tsongas for her "quiet but consistent persistence" in pushing the project forward.

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Eldridge was joined by state Sen. Jennifer Flanagan.

"We've come up against a couple of roadblocks," said Flanagan.

MBTA General Manager Jonathan Davis said the goal is to continue to build on 19 months of increased rail ridership, and triple the use of "healthy transportation options by 2030. This helps towards that end."

The Federal Transit Authority's New England Administrator Mary Beth Mello said the project is "multi-modal," which means it caters to those who opt to bicycle or drive to the train platform.

"It's equally important to have options. This project brings it all together." Mello credited Tsongas and her staff for working with the FTA to move the project forward.

Tsongas said the $3.2 million for the lot "complements" the $270 million being used to upgrade the Fitchburg line, including double tracking, the construction of new platforms, upgraded signalization and a new Wachusett station in Westminster.

Mohamed Khan, administrator for the Montachusett Area Regional Transit Authority, said work can now begin to assemble the five Park Street parcels for the 180-car parking lot. Khan said the selectmen have been "clear...we cannot use eminent domain" takings, but the landowners must "be persuaded" to sell for the project to proceed.

Khan said he's been warned to give "everybody a fair price" for their land. The five parcels include a vacant Victorian home across from Dunkin Donuts, the former LaSita Mexican restaurant, Nu-Kar Auto Sales, a parcel of land aside the Rail Trail and the building at number 3-5 Park St. that houses two shops -- a nail salon and Fresh Ayer Sports bike and bait shop.

Fresh Ayer Sports owner Chuck King opposes the parking lot. King said he'd oppose the project whether his landlord's building is spared the wrecking ball.

"Niki Tsongas didn't ask the people of town what they want," said King. "Jamie Eldridge didn't either, and it concerns my business."

King has operated Fresh Ayer Sports for three and a half years in the Park Street building owned by Phil Berry. King was frustrated that the story on the fate of the building keeps changing.

"Everybody says to me they are not taking my building and that they don't want my building," said King. But according to charts and maps on display at the ceremony, King said it's clear.

"The drawings I just saw do not have my building there."

In place of the shop, the MART diagrams show Park Street access to the expanded Rail Trail parking lot would travel over the land now containing the building at 3-5 Park St.

Even if Berry's building was spared, King said he would oppose the project. He's convinced a multi-tiered parking garage would eventually be built atop the lot. Khan has stated that could happen if the town wanted it.

"I think it's going to be a behemoth in the middle of town. It will take away from the beauty and charm of this town," said King. "I don't think they're telling everything."

King said it's hypocritical for leaders to claim environmental awareness but advocate for leveling trees to park cars aside a bike path.

"Where's that carbon monoxide going to go?" asked King. "How can they be on one side of the fence and then skip over to the other side of the fence?"

"My landlord (Berry) has told me he doesn't want to sell" his Park Street land, said King. Officials must also negotiate an easement over Depot Square for continued pedestrian access to the train tracks. Berry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The remaining $800,000 needed will be funded in equal shares of $267,000. Selectmen voted to fund one share from the selectmen-controlled Urban Development Action Grant account. Another share is to be financed by a low-interest loan secured by MART and repaid with parking lot revenues. Eldridge said word is due this month on covering the final share -- a MassWorks grant overseen by the Executive Office of Communities and Development.

Former Ayer Selectman Pauline Hamel said the ceremony lacked appropriate thanks for Meehan.

"He was the one who got this grant," said Hamel. "He should get credit."

Hamel has long supported the project. While acknowledging "there have been a lot of people opposed to it," Hamel said "I think more want to see it done. It's going to be beneficial to everybody. I'm sure of it."

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